2013 NAIA Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week - No. 4

Bernard claims NAIA women's cross country weekly award after leading team to Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational title

October 09, 2013

By: Sam Knehans, Communications & Sports Information Intern

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Maria Bernard of British Columbia has been named the NAIA Women's Cross Country National Runner of the Week, the national office announced Wednesday. Bernard was chosen for her performance during the week of Sept. 30 – Oct. 6 and was selected out of a pool of conference and independent award winners.

Bernard, a junior from Calgary, Alberta, led the Thunderbirds to a dominant victory at the 39th Annual Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational, hosted by NCAA Division III Willamette (Ore.), on Oct. 5 in Salem, Ore. British Columbia brought home the team title among NAIA, Junior College, Club and Unattached runners in the Gold Division, but the team’s average 5-kilometer time of 17:48.6 would have also topped the Cardinal Division made up of NCAA Division I, Division II and Division III programs.

Bernard outpaced the 184-runner field with a 5k time of 17:23.90 as all seven Thunderbirds finished among the top 15, including five among the top 10 and four among the top five. Bernard’s time was more than 11 seconds better than her nearest competitor in the Gold Division and would have also bested the 190-runner Cardinal Division field by over six seconds.